Chapter 210: Role-playing Interview (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 210: Role-playing Interview (3)
Jo Yong-han
[Assistant Manager, have you happened to find any separate clues?]
In the beginning, Jo Yong-han tried to feel out So-mun-nan in a relatively moderate way.
However, So-mun-nan maintained a defensive stance. Having failed to find many clues himself, he feared that a single word might inadvertently help the Target.
I used that to my advantage.
Not too forcefully, just enough.
Jo Yong-han
[If you’ve made any gains, could you please share them with me... ㅠㅠ Two turns have passed and we still haven't made any progress!]
An ominous energy began to drift through the chat room, which had previously been filled with trivial chatter.
Only An Jo-yong, who seemed certain he wasn't the Target given his position as Team Leader, was bold.
An Jo-yong
[Assistant Manager So, if you’ve learned anything, please share it!]
Yeong-yang-ga
[Oh, come on. If the Assistant Manager had found anything, he would have told us first!]
'Oh? Are they a package deal?'
My colleague’s shielding of his boss was pathetic. I wasn't sure if So-mun-nan was the one who led the workplace bullying against Jo Yong-han, but I knew that if So-mun-nan was the problem, I’d have to send Yeong-yang-ga packing along with him.
With that, the second free chat session ended.
The next room search would last 20 minutes, followed by 15 minutes of conversation.
And from the next conversation period onward, we had to identify the person suspected of being the Target, expel them from the messenger, and search their room.
"Looking at how the first resignation letter cited bullying as the reason, he definitely mentioned it during the interview. Did he just fail to actually submit it in the end?"
I perched on the edge of the desk and stared down at the resignation letters spread out in one corner.
'I should get some revenge for this.'
At first, I thought it would be enough as long as I wasn't caught as the sole Resigned Employee.
'But I should at least help our Jo Yong-han find some peace.'
So, who should I send away first? For the first time in a while, I felt a spark of interest.
The participants began to find hidden hints in their respective rooms.
As time passed, more complex hints came to light, and the members' characterizations became more solid.
Among them, Kim I-wol discovered a photo of a list of winners from an in-house contest featuring his and Seong-sil-han’s names, as well as a list of errands for So-mun-nan, on a password-protected USB.
"Since many of the participants don't have acting experience, I designed it to be non-face-to-face again, but everyone's immersion is quite good. We could have done this in person at this rate," Director Ma remarked with a hint of regret. Indeed, most of the cast members were taking the role-play very seriously.
Just as a writer was about to check the time remaining until the next conversation, a monitor showing Kim I-wol’s set caught her eye.
"Huh?"
Each room was equipped with a small whiteboard and photos of the characters.
Kim I-wol stood before the whiteboard, pinning the photos with magnets and drawing a relationship map one by one.
And then...
[Assistant Manager So-mun-nan — Ringleader]
[Yeong-yang-ga (Colleague) — Accomplice]
[Deputy Head Yu Yeon-seong — Bystander]
[Team Leader An Jo-yong — Bystander]
[Seong-sil-han (Colleague) — Bystander?]
...He ruthlessly added descriptions under their names.
"I think I-wol has already figured out the hidden backstory," the writer told Director Ma.
"What?"
"Look at the whiteboard!"
Director Ma’s gaze shifted to Kim I-wol’s whiteboard.
Kim I-wol began writing numbers next to the names. Starting with Yeong-yang-ga, he assigned a sequence to each person.
"What’s that? Is that the order of elimination?"
"Wow, I-wol is scary."
The staff buzzed. The sight of the tall man standing tall, a board marker in one hand while he stroked his chin in thought with the other, was quite intimidating.
"But how did he know? Wasn't the Target only supposed to know that they were the Resigned Employee?"
"That's right. That was the plan, but..."
Viewers love room for interpretation just as much as a clear ending. This trait was even more pronounced in mystery or planning-based content.
The fun of searching for anomalies or piecing together clues after the broadcast to realize, 'There was actually a backstory like this!' was what kept a show trending even after it ended.
This time, too, the production team intended to scatter clues about why the Resigned Employee, 'Jo Yong-han,' had no choice but to quit, and the hidden sides of the employees who were concealing it, allowing viewers to infer the context.
That was, until Kim I-wol—whom they thought would be fooled by a fake resignation letter—started scouring every piece of data like a detective and approached the behind-the-scenes story with supernatural precision.
Usually, a participant who realizes they are the Target thinks about how to disguise their identity. They don't spend time contemplating how to eliminate everyone else.
But Kim I-wol was different.
"Should I cut off his limbs first...?"
Kim I-wol sat in the chair in front of the desk, uttering words that didn't suit the profession of an idol but perfectly matched his face.
The initiative in the conversation session that followed belonged entirely to Kim I-wol.
Jo Yong-han
[Yang-ga, you've been taking Assistant Manager So-mun-nan's side for a while now, but you haven't said much about yourself.]
Seong-sil-han
[That's true...?]
Usually, making a preemptive strike makes one an easy target for a counter-attack.
But that didn't happen.
So-mun-nan
[What?]
[Yang-ga, were you trying to use me to hide?]
'Yeong-yang-ga is in league with So-mun-nan and is his loyalist.'
'So-mun-nan has a history of bullying someone, which makes him a candidate for being the Target/perpetrator.'
'To avoid being identified as the Target, it's better for So-mun-nan to discard Yeong-yang-ga, who knows too much about him.'
The situation and conditions aligned perfectly.
As a result of the anonymous vote, one vote went to Jo Yong-han, four to Yeong-yang-ga, and there was one abstention. Yeong-yang-ga’s identity was revealed.
『Ordinary employee, Mr. Yeong-yang-ga, is removed from the team list.』
When the mechanical voice spoke, everyone except Kim I-wol looked bewildered.
Even so, Kim I-wol remained composed. He had already demonstrated sufficient information-gathering skills in the beginning.
Instead, the one in a difficult spot was So-mun-nan, the person who had cast aside the junior who was entirely on his side...
And who was now suspected of 'eliminating a close associate who might have known something suspicious under the guise of following the crowd.'
"I wonder how you'll survive the next crisis."
Kim I-wol smiled and opened the door to the set as instructed. It was time for the entire cast to face each other for the first time.
The cast members, wearing their name tags, busily exchanged greetings. The comedian playing Yeong-yang-ga, who was the first to be eliminated, waved at the members from inside the Silent Room—a parody of a smoking room. It really felt like being on the rooftop of some nameless company.
After a brief moment of greeting, we immediately began searching Yeong-yang-ga’s room. The layout was similar to my set. Instead, it contained additional hints symbolizing the friendship between So-mun-nan and Yeong-yang-ga.
"They were seniors and juniors in college."
"Then it's even weirder that Assistant Manager So-mun-nan didn't cover for Yeong-yang-ga more actively. Shouldn't they have formed a tighter team?"
Yu Yeon-seong and An Jo-yong chatted while looking at the college diplomas. Meanwhile, Seong-sil-han approached me.
"Since Yeong-yang-ga wasn't the Target, there probably isn't much to gain from this room, right?"
Seong-sil-han asked in a low voice. Seeing his hands rummaging through papers even as he spoke, I wondered if even that low voice was part of his acting as a 'quiet ordinary employee who works hard.'
"I suppose so. He hid so much information that I thought he was the Target, but I guess that's not necessarily the case."
"By that logic, Assistant Manager So really is suspicious!"
"Team Leader, why have you been picking on me since earlier?"
A rift formed between An Jo-yong and So-mun-nan. Similarly, Yu Yeon-seong, who hadn't said much, seemed satisfied with being excluded from the list of suspects and didn't bother to stop An Jo-yong.
I have no ill will toward the person playing the character, but it's quite satisfying to see the character So-mun-nan in such an unfair situation.
If a person like So-mun-nan actually existed, how would he feel right now?
Now he has no one to take his side, and even the person he flattered doesn't trust him.
In a situation like this, did he ever once think of the person who had been thoroughly isolated by him?
The game was easier and simpler than reality, allowing for poetic justice to be achieved quickly.
In the following voting session, Assistant Manager So-mun-nan received a unanimous vote and was eliminated.
As the number of suspects dwindled, 1:1 messaging became possible. Simultaneously, notifications flooded my private inbox.
An Jo-yong
[Yong-han, I trust you.]
[So, let's talk honestly between us.]
[Don't you find Deputy Head Yu Yeon-seong suspicious?]
Yu Yeon-seong
[From your perspective, Yong-han, was there anything suspicious about the Team Leader?]
Seong-sil-han
[Yong-han.]
[What do you think?]
Yes, I'm the most suspicious one and the one you should doubt.
Actually, from here on, I just need to send the bystanders away one by one. Whether they plot against me or not, as long as I've punished the direct perpetrators, the 『MISSION』 music video broadcast at the end of the show will be enough for me.
However, I wanted to postpone Seong-sil-han’s disposal until the very end. I had something to settle with him.
And if possible, it would be better to deliver the story in a way that's more interesting for the viewers.
You know, things are more fun when there's something to get immersed in.
I first sent a message to my new Team Leader.
Jo Yong-han
[Actually, Deputy Head Yu Yeon-seong doesn't seem particularly special.]
[But excluding you and Sil-han, who definitely don't seem like the Target, the only one left is the Deputy Head...]
[So I read through the messages, and while Yang-ga only agreed with Assistant Manager So-mun-nan, Deputy Head Yu Yeon-seong was just giving reactions overall.]
[Yang-ga might have had no choice because of his character, but it might be different for the Deputy Head. I think he might have been trying to hide behind Yang-ga.]
An Jo-yong remained silent for a long time after my message.
He was probably scrolling up to read the group chat messages. In the meantime, I turned to Yu Yeon-seong.
Jo Yong-han
[This is just my personal reasoning, so don't take it too seriously.]
[But the reason we first excluded Team Leader An Jo-yong from the suspects was that he understood the team structure and work distribution well, right?]
[But that just means he has a lot of information; it's not necessarily evidence that he's not an outsider like Assistant Manager So-mun-nan said.]
[Considering Yeong-yang-ga had a diploma with Assistant Manager So-mun-nan in his room, couldn't it be that the Team Leader simply had our personnel records in his room?]
[So what I thought was... since we're all subordinates, maybe the Team Leader, the highest authority without a boss, is the Target.]
[It's just a thought, so if you don't agree, just ignore it! :crying_face:]
'Actually,' 'personal,' 'just.' How abstract these words are.
And yet, when these modifiers are attached, people tend to listen more closely. And they feel that the person's words are a bit more 'sincere.'
Only then did a message arrive from An Jo-yong, who must have finished checking the chat logs.
An Jo-yong
[You're right.]
[Then what is Deputy Head Yu's identity?]
Jo Yong-han
[Maybe an industrial spy? lol]
An Jo-yong
[Hey now]
[Stop joking around haha]
He sent 'haha,' but he probably wasn't laughing. He was likely rushing to Seong-sil-han right now, trying to convince him to eliminate Yu Yeon-seong next.
A reply from Yu Yeon-seong arrived at the perfect time.
Yu Yeon-seong
[Honestly, both the Team Leader and I were suspicious of Seong-sil-han.]
[But thinking about it, I think you're right, Yong-han.]
[It's not like Seong-sil-han ever failed to answer a question.]
Jo Yong-han
[Exactly.]
I had already coordinated with Seong-sil-han. We would send An Jo-yong away first, then Yu Yeon-seong.
"This is all the karma of bosses who failed to build trust."
There were no traitors. Our Team Leader and Deputy Head were escorted to the Silent Room one after another.
Watching the two of them being led away, I thought of someone. I realized then for the first time that one could have a sweet dream without even sleeping.
The Target had not been found even after four out of six people were disposed of. So now, Seong-sil-han would know. That I was the Target.
Seong-sil-han and I stepped out of our booths and sat across from each other at the table in the middle of the set where we had first greeted each other.
Seong-sil-han asked with a bitter smile.
"Doesn't this mean the game is over?"
"Why is that?"
When I asked back, Seong-sil-han looked at me as if wondering why I was even asking.
"Because if you point me out, no one will be left."
"And are you going to abstain, Sil-han?"
Seong-sil-han’s eyes widened at my words.
"What are you going to do, leaving only me in this company? I'm the Resigned Employee."
As I spoke with a smile, Seong-sil-han’s expression crumpled.
"Ah..."
Seong-sil-han let out a sigh.
Clearly, Jo Yong-han had resigned due to workplace bullying. He had three colleagues, and one of them was on the side of the person who led the bullying.
Then what about the other colleague?
He was close enough to Jo Yong-han to enter an in-house contest with him, but unlike So-mun-nan and Yeong-yang-ga, he didn't show his friendship outwardly. He followed Jo Yong-han’s opinions entirely while never offering his own.
The reason for that was probably...
"You guessed it, didn't you? You were bullied too, Sil-han, but you weren't the Target."
...Because he realized that the character Jo Yong-han had fought even on behalf of his close colleague, Seong-sil-han, before being unable to endure it and leaving the company.
The fact that Seong-sil-han couldn't point me out first was also consistent with the idea that evidence of bullying had been found in his own room. He probably didn't step forward because he thought he was the victim and the Target.
If the last remaining employee identifies the Target, the game ends in a victory for the cast.
However, judging by Seong-sil-han’s current aura, it seemed he wouldn't reveal my identity even if he knew it. Because I could truly see... guilt in the person before me.
"It's also good for the Target to win. Justice being served is cool. But how about we do this?"
"...?"
"You point to me, and I point to you. We both nominate each other and leave the company together!"
The people in the Silent Room and the production staff looked aghast.
Wait, you didn't think of an ending where everyone resigns while making office content?
Seong-sil-han fell into deep thought. Then, perhaps finding my trick quite tempting, he accepted my proposal after a short deliberation.
"Alright. Then..."
Glances were exchanged across the table. And as promised, instead of revealing my identity, Seong-sil-han requested a final vote.
Usually, it's a meaningless vote, so it wouldn't even get this far. I felt the cameras focusing on this rare situation.
『The voting has ended.』
A clear narration rang out. Seong-sil-han wore a tired yet refreshed smile.
However, Seong-sil-han’s smile didn't last long.
『The Resigned Employee, Jo Yong-han, has been discovered, and the company's security is maintained.』
Because I had cast an abstention vote. With this, Seong-sil-han had technically caught the Target.
"Why, why...?!"
Seong-sil-han jumped up from his seat.
"Well, because you liked working here, Sil-han."
The fact that he could have settled in Germany but chose to return to Korea to join this company, voluntarily participated in contests, and endured despite being bullied—that's what it meant.
"There's nothing bullying you anymore. So, Sil-han, do what you want to do here."
I handed him the USB containing our contest winner list.
"Congratulations on your win!"
『Ordinary employee, Mr. Seong-sil-han, protects the company's security.』
The narration overlapped with the congratulations. The people who had been trapped in the Silent Room rushed out and hugged Seong-sil-han.
'A heartwarming ending is good for a mystery.'
I also cautiously approached Seong-sil-han. And I lightly hugged the man, who was slightly shorter than me.
Han Ga-un of Parte, who played the role of Seong-sil-han, trembled slightly.
"...Thank you."
"It's nothing, Senior."
"And I'm sorry..."
I wondered why he was so immersed in the character. It seemed he felt he had committed a sin against me in his own way.
But how long ago was it that Parte tried to establish dominance in the waiting room? And the incident on Idol Dynasty Annals was also a long time ago.
Seeing him hold onto all that and try to make amends somehow, I thought, 'This guy's life in the entertainment industry won't be easy either.'
I'm letting it slide because Parte hasn't released a new song recently. If we were about to compete for a music video broadcast, I wouldn't have been so lenient.
Anyway, the filming ended perfectly and beautifully. On the way back, the manager and I picked up Choi Je-ho, who had gone to a dance competition program, and returned to the dorm. It had been a long day.